Plants growing at Ohio medical marijuana company, first crop expected in February

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The plants are still small — about two or three inches tall — but a state-approved medical marijuana cultivation company announced it is on its way to providing one of the first crops of legal cannabis in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Commerce awarded a certificate of operation to Grow Ohio Pharmaceuticals, in Muskingum County’s Newton Township, on Sept. 10. The company said it has plants in 20 small flowering rooms.

Since Ohio weather isn’t as mild as places such as California or Mexico, the farm is all indoors. It is not using greenhouses, either, and must rely on lights to initiate photosynthesis. It uses a unique form of energy – generated from food, oils and even sewer sludge – from a nearby Quasar Energy biogas plant.

The company expects to have flower available for patients in February, said Caroline Henry, the company’s vice president of communications.